Creighton students are in the midst of final exams. College basketball fans have been without their sport for more than a month, relying now on a steady diet of NBA Playoffs action to fill the void. The summer is almost unofficially here.
We at White & Blue Review have learned that Creighton’s men’s basketball team has committed to participating in the Metro Summer Basketball League, meaning Bluejays fans will get a chance to quench their thirst for CU hoops this June and July.
And for the second straight year, we at White & Blue Review are excited to be the exclusive online home for the Metro Summer Basketball League.
After a year absence from the league in 2009, new head coach Greg McDermott asked his players to participate in the league last summer. Fans were able to catch a first glimpse of Gregory Echenique, Doug McDermott, Jahenns Manigat, and Will Artino, while catching up with Kenny Lawson and Wayne Runnels and Antoine Young.
Watch Antoine Young and the other Bluejays this summer
Some summer leagues along the east and west coasts boast several large D-I schools in the same league. There are now three D-I hoops programs within 60 miles of each other in Nebraska. According to a source, Doc Sadler’s Huskers received an invitation to play in the league but declined. The Mavericks of Nebraska-Omaha, now on their way to the Summit League, will have to play by the summer league rules stipulating only a certain number of current players from the same D-I program can play on the same team.
In the past, UNO and other D-II schools could have their whole returning team on the same summer league roster. But splitting up teams isn’t all bad. Take a look at this possibility for Creighton. With four new freshmen to add to the mix and the redshirt year removed from Artino, it could be interesting to see these five guys in action on the court. In theory they could all be played together on one team. The NCAA mandates for these summer leagues that you can only place two current players from the same school on one team, but then any other newcomers and former players from the same school can be on the same team. So add in Grant Gibbs to this team and it could make for a very interesting team to watch.
With a trip to the Bahamas in August and the Metro Summer Basketball League in June and July, the summer is shaping up to be a busy one for McDermott’s Creighton basketball program.